North Korean 122mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), cleverly disguised as civilian trucks, have reportedly been spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, according to Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko and Russian war correspondents on January 23.
These vehicles, designed to appear as ordinary box and dump trucks, conceal a hidden arsenal of 12 122-mm rocket tubes each. The rocket launchers can be deployed through pop-up and slide-door roofs, allowing the systems to remain undetected until activated.
The disguised MLRS were first showcased during a 2023 military parade in North Korea. Reports now indicate that they have entered service within the Russian military.
Photo: STERNENKO / Telegram
A Russian war correspondent highlighted the unusual sight with a sarcastic comment, writing, “North Korean truck-based MLRS in the Kursk region. Came for a training exercise,” while sharing a video of the vehicles operating in Russia.
The use of civilian-style vehicles to transport and deploy MLRS enables these systems to blend seamlessly into non-military settings, making them significantly harder to detect or target.
This development comes amid reports of increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
In 2024, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate revealed that Russia had received 148 KN-23 ballistic missiles from North Korea. These missiles have been actively used to strike Ukrainian territory, with an additional 150 missiles expected to be delivered in 2025.
Photo: STERNENKO / Telegram
